Documentary Fleur van Opijnen wins Film Talent Award Brabant 2024

09/25/2024 - 08:13

At the 35th edition of Filmfestival Deurne, also known as 'Nacht van het Witte Doek' (Night of the White Screen), the Film Talent Award Brabant 2024 was presented. The audience award in the documentary category went to ‘We’re Here to Stay’, directed and produced by Fleur van Opijnen, a former Creative Business student at Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas). The film made a deep impression on both the jury and the audience. We sat down with Fleur to discuss her project, and her plans for the future.

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Student work

Can you describe the project you worked on?

Fleur: ‘My Capstone project was a documentary about synchronized ice skating, something close to my heart because I've been part of the Dutch senior synchronized skating “Team Ice United” since I was 16. The idea started taking shape during my internship at a video production company in Valencia, where I was inspired by their documentary work.’

‘I approached the KNSB (Royal Dutch Skating Federation), who were enthusiastic about my idea, and I got a lot of creative freedom to tell the story from my perspective. My goal was to give an intimate look into the world of synchronized skating in the Netherlands, a sport that isn’t as well-known as speed skating or short track.’

‘The documentary includes interviews with my teammates and behind-the-scenes footage of our preparations for competitions, including the World Championships in Zagreb. I was lucky to have my friend and fellow Creative Business student, Jip Tissink, as my camerawoman and editor. Together with a small team of friends, we created a film that really captured the essence of what makes this sport special.’

Can you share some memorable experiences from your project?

Fleur: ‘The premiere of the documentary was an unforgettable experience. We held it for the entire team, and the emotional reactions from my teammates were overwhelming. There were tears and laughter in all the right moments. Seeing the audience connect with the story was incredible. It was also amazing to have friends, classmates and lecturers from BUas there to support me. I couldn’t have done this project without them.'

What are your plans for the future?

Fleur: ‘Right now, I’m doing a bit of everything. I’m continuing to skate with my team, and I’ve started freelancing as a video editor to build my skills in that area. I’m also submitting my documentary, “We’re Here to Stay”, to more film festivals and KNSB published it on their platform Schaatsen.nl.’

‘In the future, I want to stay involved in the media industry, and I’m keeping my options open. The documentary’s title comes from a pep talk my coach gave, “We’re here to stay”, and it not only represents our team but also how I feel about my place in this industry. I know this is where I belong, and I’m excited to keep growing from here.’

What advice would you give to current students?

Fleur: ‘If you have a passion for something, go for it, even if you have doubts. When I first started this documentary, I wondered if I could pull it off as a student, but with determination, you can make it happen.’

Fleur’s documentary, ‘We’re Here to Stay’, recently won the Audience Award at the Film Talent Award Brabant 2024 and is available to watch on Schaatsen.nl. You can find Fleur on LinkedIn.